UEFA Euro 2016 Comes to Paris

19 May 2016

If You’re in Paris This Summer, Catch a Live Sporting Event to Remember

2016 marks the 15th edition of the UEFA European Championship – it has been held every four years since 1960 – and this year, it will be bigger and better than ever before. Instead of the usual 16 teams taking part, the competition has been expanded to cater for 24 teams. The new format means teams will be organised into six groups of four, followed by three rounds of knock-out stages and the final. This means more football than ever before in this competition! France, as the hosting side, automatically qualified and it will be interesting to see which team Spain brings to the competition: the side who lost out in the World Cup two years ago, or the two-time defending champions of the Euros.

France have known they would host this prestigious event since 2010 when they won the deciding vote, leaving contenders Turkey and Italy close behind. They are no strangers to swarms of football fans from the world over descending upon them – this will be the third time they hold the tournament, having hosted in 1960 and 1984. On one of those occasions, playing on home soil proved very lucky for the French – they won the 1984 championship as well as the 2000 event held in Belgium and the Netherlands. Who could forget the brilliant job they did of hosting and winning the World Cup ’98 too? Could it be that the time has come for France to earn another win?

The line-up of teams is pretty similar to the Euro 2012 teams with thirteen of the sixteen teams at that games back for another go at the cup this year. England scored an impeccable qualifying campaign, winning all ten of their ten matches. Also amongst the returning teams are world champions, Germany who have qualified for the 12th consecutive finals, current champions Spain, as well as Turkey, Portugal and Belgium.

The matches start on 10th June between France and Romania and will continue almost daily until 10th July final at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Northern Paris. This is certainly an exciting time to be in France, no matter who you’re backing. Whether you’re in Paris on an unrelated trip or you’re dedicatedly touring with your team, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved and show your patriotic support. The Parc des Princes stadium is just a 35 minute journey by public transport from Hotel Amarante Champs-Élysées and the Stade de France only 40 minutes.

Games at the Parc des Princes take place on 12th, 15th, 18th, 21st and 25th June and at the Stade de France on 10th, 13th, 16th, 22nd, 27th June, and 3rd and 10th July. For a full list of matches across France, check the fixtures list. So grab your tickets here and make your next visit to Paris an unforgettable sporting occasion!